Slather butter over slices of bread, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-star anise sugar. Toast under a broiler or in a toaster oven until bubbly and lightly browned.

Mix the entire batch with 1 cup of quick oats and a stick of softened butter. Sprinkle this mixture over blueberry muffins before baking.

Use 1 tablespoon of the mixture in place of 1 tablespoon of the sugar in your favorite pancake or waffle recipe.

Use instead of plain sugar to sweeten applesauce. Or use in place of the sugar in apple crisp.

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet. Slice a banana lengthwise down the center. Add a teaspoon of the sugar to the skillet, then add the bananas and fry on both sides for several minutes, or until lightly browned. Eat the banana slices on their own, or use as topping for ice cream or pancakes. Be sure to use the liquid in the skillet as syrup on the pancakes or ice cream.

Pan-fry your favorite meatball recipe (or use frozen) in a bit of melted butter. Transfer the meatballs to an oven-safe platter and keep warm in a 200 F oven. Meanwhile, return the uncleaned skillet to the heat. Add more butter, a sliced onion and a splash of soy sauce. Cook until the onion is tender, then add 1 teaspoon of the sugar mixture and a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan. Serve the meatballs topped with the pan sauce.